-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An Australian pilot landed a company plane in the ocean off Darwin on Friday , in a water landing that prompted comparisons to last month 's landing of a US Airways jet in New York 's Hudson River .

The Australian pilot has been compared to U.S. hero Chesley B. `` Sully '' Sullenberger , pictured above .

The Australian pilot also encountered problems shortly after takeoff . The twin-propeller plane was carrying the pilot and five passengers when it went down shortly after leaving Darwin International Airport , said Neville Blyth , a senior transport safety investigator with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau .

All those aboard were unhurt and managed to walk to shore , he said . Pictures showed the men from the plane soaked and carrying bags and equipment as they walked through the water .

`` It 's essentially a good story , '' Blyth said .

The ATSB is deciding whether to investigate , he said , and the cause of the incident is still unknown .

The Piper Chieftain plane was on its way to the town of Maningrida , about 500 kilometers -LRB- 310 miles -RRB- east of Darwin , according to its owner , Australian information technology company CSG . Watch the plane ditch in Darwin Harbor ''

`` We would like to congratulate the pilot following all emergency landing and evacuation procedures and his very professional handling of the situation , '' a CSG statement said .

Darwin is in Australia 's Northern Territory , on the coast of the Timor Sea . The city 's airport is near the water .

The plane 's trajectory took it over the water , giving the pilot limited opportunities to ditch the plane on land , Blyth said . He said the ocean was a safer option for landing than the beach , where the firmness of the sand was unknown .

`` Personally , I think the decision was appropriate , '' Blyth said .

Australian media dubbed the captain of the Darwin plane `` Sully Lite , '' comparing him to the captain of the US Airways Airbus jet that landed safely in the Hudson .

Pilot Chesley B. `` Sully '' Sullenberger was hailed as a hero for landing the plane safely and ensuring that all 155 people on board survived .

Asked about the comparisons , Blyth said the connection was tenuous .

`` The correlation for a water landing is as close as it gets , '' he said .

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Australian pilot lands a company plane in the ocean off Darwin

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He and five passengers escape injury after emergency landing

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Australian media dubbed pilot `` Sully Lite , '' comparing him to U.S. hero